Silverware holding means for dishwashers



Oct. 24, 1967 R. ETTLINGER, JR

SILVERWARE HOLDING MEANS FOR DISHWASHERS Filed Oct. 14, 1965 /N Vf N TOR 5 W 0 m m United States Patent 3,348,729 SILVERWARE HOLDING MEANS FOR DISHWASHERS Ralph Ettlinger, In, 1370 Lincoln Ave. S., Highland Park, Ill. 60035 Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,939 1 Claim. (Cl. 22083) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Containers for silverware comprising upstanding side walls, and bottom walls defining a concave interior surface. Slots are formed in the side walls and openings in the bottom walls to provide for free flow of water. Flanges are provided around the upper edge of the container and the flanges define upwardly formed portions which provide handles for grasping a container, particularly when the containers are located in openings provided in an otherwise flat counter top. The side walls extend below the bottom wall and are scalloped to provide improved drainage as well as fonming supporting feet.

This invention relates to container means adapted for holding silverware during dishwashing operations. The containers of this invention are particularly adapted for association with a rack of the type designed for transportation through automatic dishwashing equipment.

The use of dishwashing machines has become quite popular, particularly in restaurants and in other facilities which handle large numbers of dishes. Such machines generally comprise conveyors which are adapted to transport racks carrying dishes to be washed. The conveyors move the racks through the machines, and during passage, water and detergents are dispensed whereby the dishes are washed without handling by individuals. Drying is also accomplished without handling of the dishes, and in certain constructions, the racks can be removed for carrying of the clean dishes to locations where they can be stacked until ready for use.

The instant invention is particularly directed to the provision of improved container means for carrying silverware. The container means are intended to be used while the silverware is being carried through the dishwashing machine. In addition, the container means are adapted to be used for storage of the silverware after washing whereby a highly efficient arrangement can be achieved.

The silverware container means of'this invention provide improvements over various prior art constructions. In certain prior constructions, silverware was placed on a flat rack, and then transported in a horizontal position through the washing machine. With an arrangement of this nature, there is a substantial tendency for some pieces of silverware to mask other pieces whereby they would not be exposed to the washing machine.

Containers carried by racks have also been utilized in dishwashing machines. The silverware stands upright in such containers. and, accordingly, there is a much better chance of exposure of all of the silverware to the washing fluids.

In certain container constructions for silverware, there are, however, other problems relating to proper contact of the dishwashing fluids with the silverware. Thus, the design of the containers in many cases tends to disrupt the flow of the dishwashing fluids whereby they will not clean the silverware with maximum efiiciency.

In the handling of silverware after washing, it is desirable to provide for a minimum of operations. Specifically, it is advantageous to provide containers which can be used for insertion into receptacles located at a lunch counter or the like. Such containers can be removed from the dishwashing rack and transported to a receptacle without any handling of the silverware itself being necessary until the silverware is located for use by a customer. Such arrangements are available; however, difficulties have been experienced with regard to the design of the silverware containers and lunch counter receptacles since it is diflicult to remove the containers from the receptacles after the container has been emptied.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved container for use in conjunction with automatic dishwashing equipment whereby silverware can be washed in a most eflicient fashion.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a silverware container which is characterized by a design which permits the washing fluids to contact the silverware in a substantially uninhibited fashion whereby maximum washing efliciency can be obtained.

It is a still further particular object of this invention to provide a' design for a silverware container which greatly simplifies handling of the container subsequent to the washing operation. These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a container characterized by the features of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view partly cut away of the container of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary detail view taken about the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken about the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the association of the container with a counter .receptacle.

The container of this invention is adapted to be asso ciated with a dishwashing apparatus of the type employing rack means which are transported through the dishbe supported by the rack means with the silverware disposed within the containers. Other dishes including plates and glasses are also carried by the rack means whereby all dishes can be washed when the rack means are moved through the apparatus. Conveyor chains or the like are employed for moving the racks, and during passage through the apparatus, detergents and washing fluids are directed at the dishes, preferably in pressurized streams, for achieving the washing operation.

The specific containers of this invention comprise side walls formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The side walls define alongated substantially vertical slots which extend from points near the top edge of the container to points near the bottom wall. The bottom wall assumes a concave interior configuration with openings provided in the bottom wall. As will be discussed in detail hereinafter, the design of the container along with the disposition of the slots and openings provides for the most efficient contact of the washing fluids.

Another important feature of the invention involves handle means which are associated with the top rim of the container. The handle means greatly improve the efficiency of the containers since the containers can be moved from one position of use to another without difiiculty. The handle means can also be incorporated into the containers without any undue expense.

The container 10 shown in the drawings comprises a top edge 12 and side walls 14. The side walls terminate in a bottom wall 16.

The top edge 12 defines a flange extending all around the container. It will be noted that the flange defines upwardly formed portions 18 and 20. These portions comprise handles for the container. As shown in FIGURE 2, the container is adapted to rest on wire frame members 22 which may form part of the dishwashing rack. Because of the upwardly formed handle members, the container can readily be grasped for lifting with respect to the wires 22.

FIGURE illustrates an even more important aspect relative to the use of the handle members 18 and 20. This figure illustrates a counter top or the like 24 which includes receptacles 26. These receptacles are adapted to receive a container 10, and under ordinary circumstances, the flange of the container would rest flush With the top surface of the counter. It will be noted, however, that With the handles 18 and 20, the container can readily be grasped for easy removal of the container after the silverware has been emptied.

The side wall 14 of each container cup defines a plurality of elongated slots 28. These slots extend from the top edge of the container down to a point adjacent the bottom wall 16. Strips of material 30 are formed in the side walls with the slots 28 being defined between adjacent strips 30. The strips 30 are relatively narrow whereby a large proportion of the side walls define an open configuration. This permits maximum flow of washing fluids through the side walls.

Reinforcing bands 32 are integrally formed in the cup construction. These bands extend about the entire periphery of the construction to provide for interconnection of the strips 30. As shown in FIGURE 4, the bands do not significantly block the slots defined between the strips 30. Thus, vertical flow of fluids is not significantly impeded by the bands 32 since these bands are formed at the inner edges of the strips 30. This provides an important feature of the construction of this invention since free flow of the washing fluids provides the best possible washing conditions. This is particularly true where the fluids are directed at the silverware under pressure sinceimpingement of the fluids at high pressure provides the best action for purposes of dislodging food particles.

The design of the bottom wall 16 is also important particularly in conjunction with the other features of this invention. The concavity which characterizes the bottom wallprovides an ideal arrangement since the silverware is placed in the container with the handles disposed down.- wardly. As noted in applicants copending application, Ser. No. 414,528, filed Nov. 30, 1964, now Patent No. 3,294,273 the upper ends of the silverware flare outwardly with this arrangement for maximum exposure to the cleaning fluid. By providing a taper in the side walls from topto bottom, the flaring action is even more pronounced.

The bottom wall 16 is provided with a number of relatively large openings 34. These openings insure free flow of fluid through the container. Proper flow is important so that fluids will not back up and disrupt the proper impinging action. The large openings provide significantly better flow than is provided when a large number of small openings are formed in the bottom Wall.

It will be noted that the side walls extend downwardly beyond the bottom wall. These downwardly extending portions are scalloped whereby feet 36 are formed in the construction. This arrangement provides the desired stability in the construction. More important, the provision of the openings 37 between the feet greatly improves drainage whereby the free flow of fluids is not impeded.

It will be noted that each of the features involved in the design of this invention-can readily be incorporated in the construction through the use of simple molding techniques. Accordingly, the containers of this invention can be economically produced whereby the advantages thereof can be realized without the necessity for a significant capital outlay.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction described which provide the characteristics of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof particularly as defined in the following claim.

That which is claimed is:

In a dishwashing apparatus wherein rack means are transported through the apparatus for cleaning of items carried by the rack, the improvement comprising silverware containers adapted to be carried by the rack means, said containers comprising cylindrically shaped cups having an upstanding side wall and a bottom wall, said side wall defining elongated substantially vertical slots extending from points near the top edge of the side wall to points adjacent the bottom wall, said slots being closely spaced whereby relatively narrow strips of material form the cup body between said top edge and said bottom wall, reinforcing bands integrally formed around the periphery of said cup body for interconnecting said strips, said bands being formed at the inner edges of said strips whereby said slots are substantially continuous along said side walls, said side wall tapering inwardly from top to bottom, and wherein said side wall extends downwardly beyond said bottom wall, said side wall being scalloped whereby improved drainage is provided and supporting feet are formed for said cup, said bottom wall defining a concave interior surface and including a plurality of openings formed in the bottom walls, and wherein the top edge of each cup comprises an outwardly extending flange,

said flange being adapted to engage means supporting the cup, said flange defining upwardly formed portions to thereby provide a handle for grasping a cup, said upwardly formed portions being disposed in spaced-apart rela tionship with respect to said means supporting the cup, and wherein said upwardly formed portions are disposed at two diametrically opposed locations on said flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,466,349 4/ 1949 Anderson 22017 2,785,547 3/1957 Barros 220-47 3,050,073 8/1962 McMillan, 220--19 3,078,020 2/1963 Boonstra 21l-74 3,115,281 12/ 1963 Somme 220-40 3,294,273 12/1966 Ettlinger 22017 FOREIGN PATENTS 873,290 7/ 1961 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Assistant Examiner. 

